The Numbers Behind a Structural Shift
Singapore’s gig economy is no longer a peripheral phenomenon. Fresh data from the Ministry of Manpower reveals that among 208,200 regular own account workers in 2025, some 71,600—or 2.9% of employed residents—were platform workers. That represents a steady climb from 67,200, or 2.7%, in the prior year, underscoring how deeply platform-mediated work has embedded itself in the nation’s labour architecture.
The growth is not uniform across sectors. Private-hire car drivers drove much of the expansion, rising from 31,800 to 36,000, a direct response to surging demand for ride-hailing services. Taxi drivers and delivery workers, by contrast, held largely stable at 20,900 and 14,700 respectively. This divergence tells a story about consumer preferences and the shifting economics of urban mobility.
Why Workers Are Choosing Platform Work
A striking 92.5% of regular primary platform workers said they preferred this arrangement, up from 89.8% the previous year. Flexibility in working hours and location, combined with lower entry barriers, continues to attract older workers transitioning into retirement or seeking supplementary income in later career stages.
The profile of the platform workforce skews towards seniors and those without tertiary education, though their shares have declined slightly. For many, platform work functions as a bridge—not a trap.
The Secondary Hustle Phenomenon
Beyond primary platform workers, another 29,000 residents engaged in own account work on the side, down from 32,100 the year before. Among them, 39.2% cited flexibility and 22.7% pointed to freedom as top reasons for their choice. A further 35.4% were simply earning income during spare time, while 20.7% valued the ability to spend more time with family.
This secondary segment is particularly instructive. It reveals that gig work is not always a fallback; for many, it is a deliberate lifestyle decision that complements rather than replaces conventional employment.
A Platform in Transition
The ecosystem itself is evolving. Grab, the region’s dominant super-app, recorded its first full-year profit of US$268 million in 2025, marking a symbolic turning point from the aggressive loss-making competition of its early years. As platforms prioritise profitability, incentive structures are being recalibrated—a shift that carries implications for driver autonomy and earnings stability.
What This Means for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
For Singaporeans contemplating a move into freelancing or gig work, the environment has never been more structured. Government support through the Platform Workers CPF Transition Support scheme, alongside work injury compensation now aligned with employee coverage, reduces some of the historical precarity. The question is no longer whether gig work is legitimate—it is how to leverage it as a foundation for something larger.
